Sony’s Sudden Shutdown: The Fall of Dark Outlaw Games

Sony has announced the shutdown of Dark Outlaw Games, a studio led by Jason Blundell, known for his work on COD Zombies. This decision comes just a year after the studio was established under Sony in March 2025. Interestingly, this isn’t the first time Sony has ended a partnership with a company founded by Blundell.

According to a report from resetera, gaming journalist Jason Schreier has confirmed the closure with a simple “yup.”

Despite being in the early stages of development, details about Dark Outlaw’s project remained shrouded in mystery. No public branding, announcement trailers, or significant updates have been released in the past year.

This closure follows Blundell’s previous venture with Sony, Deviation Games, which was founded in 2020. The partnership aimed to develop a “groundbreaking AAA original IP.” However, after Blundell’s departure in 2022, funding was pulled, leading to Deviation Games shutting down in 2024.

The exact number of developers affected by the closure of Dark Outlaw Games is currently unknown. However, it is likely that the studio employed a relatively small team. Our thoughts go out to those impacted as they navigate new opportunities during a challenging time for game developers.

Not limited to Dark Outlaw, Sony has also initiated layoffs across its US and UK businesses. While the scale is described as “small,” there is a notable shift away from the mobile gaming market. The focus now lies on supporting public projects like MLB The Show Mobile, Ratchet & Clank: Ranger Rumble, and collaborations with NCSOFT.

Recent developments, including the closure of Bluepoint Games and the cancellation of a Bloodborne remake, raise concerns about the future of Sony’s studios and projects in the live service gaming sector. While some titles like Horizon Hunters Gathering appear to be thriving, other projects such as Bend Studio’s canceled live service game and Fairgame$ from Haven face uncertainties.